Ehrlich To Scrap Red And Purple Line If Elected

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun today, Robert L. Ehrlich, former Maryland Governor and challenger to incumbent Governor Martin O’Malley, announced his intentions to scrap proposed light rail projects during a small business round table discussion in Montgomery County.

From the Baltimore Sun (excerpts):

Ehrlich told the group he would go back to his plan for high-speed buses on the Purple Line in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and be “open to ideas” about Baltimore’s Red Line. He said he would prefer to spend the money on the MARC commuter rail system and the Washington Metro — not on these new light rail lines.

The state has applied to the federal government for funding of the two transit lines as light rail projects. If approved, the federal share of the cost would likely be 50 percent — leaving Maryland to raise the other half. The O’Malley administration has put off any decision on funding until its hears from the Federal Transit Administration on whether it will approve either project.